Water heater



Dec. 16, 1930.

L. GANZ WATER HEATER Filed Feb. 10, 1926 Zen Gaz/za.;

Patented Dc. v16,1930

lino!esalta,` or cHrcAGo, intrirors ,Y

yApplicationruledFebruary 10,519,26. Seria'N'o'. 87,3 15f This invention' relatesto/ Water` heaters,

and more particularly tewater heat'ersof the vision of' means constituting individuallheat'- ing stations designed, to uniformly-distribute the generated heat Vin the combustionwchamber, and to eiect a `uniformrisejintempera- .ture along adefinite line of Water flow, which V in this instance constitutes la series ofbaliie plates arranged so as to expose a maximum` radiating or absorbing surface tothe hot combustion "gases issuing `from -thefaburner ele-V i ing surfaces, and alsoin'vievv ofthe fact' that I 2,5 the Water waslnot 'evenly heated, itsWasimz Vpossible in devicesjhaving the "abovenoted characteristics, toy utilize thehe'at which `ordinarily was discharged to 'theatmosphere with the flue gases@ Y i Y "Further, devicesof thisv character require a great deal of attention intheir operation With the result that suchexpedients'like presi-Y sure gauges, thermostatic controls,"and the p Y like are necessary to avoid danger-and L ifncon-x-y 35 venience.

f ese are very costlyandrather unreliabler? A VOneolnjectofthe'presentinvention@sitof v-improvethe construction andi-operaticnof Y devices of the character mentioned. y -1 V40 i e` further object istol apply :therheat tojthe Water carrying vessels so intimately that'fless lire will be required and thereforefconsider ably -less `fuel used. v Y

Y 'i` Anotherobject -is theproviisiori `V`-off-a ellicient, and less complicated `device fofithe.,

Y above mentioned type. Thisris accomplished inthe-present embodiment 'byproviding unusually large heat'absorbing surfaces through Which-Water circulatesV in the 'path `of burner 'g i $50 elements arrangedzto concentratethexheat soif Other systems Vhave'fher'etofore Vfbeenem-y Y heater constructed in accordance{With the.r :present-invention.

bythe heat kis more :evenly distributed f throughoutthe combustion chamber.

:A-further object is to provide means Where` ormly:distribute'the heated vWater particles with the resultnthat instantaneousheating is erected,` `and the stresses on. the heater due combusti-ontzet..intervals `alongtheiline of Y Anotherobject isto'lprovide-meanswheref u by` thevvvater'is causedto twirl so as to uni- Y to:` uneven heating, eradicated 4or [at least, -Y j Vminimized tonegligibleproportions' Y p i 'A Lfurthergobject fis. ato arrange the heat* absorbingl surface/sini such la` manner as. to

i completelyrutilize.V practically all, of the heat inherent in? the products of combustion. be-

berto zthe Yatmosphereil L 'Astillffurtherobjectis thefprcvision of an Y automatic Vcontrol 1 for automaticiV heaters i which does not necessitate r the 'use of a thermostaty orothercomp1ated and expensive eXpediei1ts A Y 1 Other.' objectsandv advantages will appear "fromflthe followingfdescriptionolfv an illusy v.

trated 'embodiment of the present invention'.

.In the vvdrawings:

rFigggurelisa sectional vieWof-afwater I Y F F 1gure2 is a sectional view taken substan-V y` tiallyjalong line2+-2 of Figure 1-.

[Figure 25k is a; diagrammatic plan "view Y showing'ythe manner inV which thestand pipes r f "unite thev individual .-'wat'er chambers. Y Y g Figure-lisa Vfraggmentaryrsectional vievvvr Vtaken substantially alng .line 1.-4' of Figf "ure ,i Q i 1 Figure e5 is an'enlarged'fragmentary sec# YHtional:vie-Wtaken substantially along the line Figu'rej is la perspectivegview of] Water i valve 1piston lshown incFigure 4; i

an individual `:baille "section" coristituting ay Waters chamber. Y l w jv f' The Water-heater Vselected for illustration c Fgllle ,7A S a .ragmentarysectionalview ofV comprises'` a cylindrical .A shell1 10y supported -uponsuitable standards llwhich are secured Y able manner Aas-by the bolts 1,2. A curved rim yof the shelllO.4 Thecoverhas an opening 16 defined bythe upstanding flange 17 which is centrally disposedvvith reference Y i tothe shell, andcis vadapted to receive a pipe 18 v which leads to a chimney flue or any;.other appropriate exit Which Will direct the escapeVV of-'the flue .gases to the atmosphere. VAtubularw burner element 19 Which in this instancex' is curvedl to. define" a helix, is provided 'with a series of Bunsen burners'2()55215l 22 andl 23,

arranged at intervals alongjthe burner pipe 19. A.Thisburnerielement is.v disposed nearthe bottom of the shell and is adapted-to'l receive suitable. gaseousor liquid fuel-from avalved housing-524 which communicates with the burner pip'e19 andisconnected'theretvith :by means'of arunion 25'.V` -As shown thethousing is provided with apport .'26 vvliieh-isadapted j l to receivea pipe1 27 Vleading vfrom anysuitablev Y fuel supply source'. `The "pipef27: asyshovvn',

communicates 'with the lhousing?24*by means of .an internallythreaded upstanding flange 28 provided for thatpur'poseir Asplug- 29A of'fstaiidard construction is f detachably {isecured to theehd of the :burnerfpipe 19. to

facilitate* "access thereto f init the event-V that cleaning ofthe burner'element is necessary.

' l The interior of the shell `f1() comprising the combustion space 'f or` f chamber is. -providedfwith a 'series of-baffle plates 30,l 31, 32, 33 and y34x .constituting 'Water chambers r consistingof substantially circular, parabolic,

i cohcavo-convexolens-shaped sectionsy (F igure 7)k arranged to p'oclret the heatedigases Which issue A directly. thereto from theirV ren spectve burner elementsby virtue of'flues to` be,hereinafter'described.'` As shown7 the baffle platesare arranged in such: amanneras t0 y'completely cover the combustion spacci thereby obstructing?thel `cornbust'ioirrgaseswhich rimpi'nge against their surfaces: during ttheir travel 'upwards 'in an. endeavor ftof reach `the chimney pipe `18.j This is desirable". in that ment.- This"arrangemeiitenables one porc the Waterwhich circulates threugh `Vthe very narroivfwater spacer36;ispermittedftfcon- Y 5o; w f

l asis obviousfrom the shoviiigrin Figure 7 tact With-a very largellieat`r radiating surface l'lhe bailiesections :inthe presentshoivin'g,

rareconnected iiis'eriesby-` virtue of-vvater jtubes 37 which comniumcatewithleachof the sections in suchl a manner as; t'ogive the Water adecided' tvvirl during its passage there- 'th-rough.-V V` 'lliisisgaccomplishedby arranging the-next succeeding sectiongas.at39-thus directin'g? the; Watertanventially inside' 'the peri'pheryof 1the'fbaftle `section` s"'.nd causing the' Water-#by virtue" of "itsi spiral course iii-:the

d in the balilefse'ctions.V

,Water is supplied from Aany convenient pressure source through a pipe 40 which communicates with va housing41 secured in coaxialirelation with the housing 24; These 'housings 241andfl41'Whichronstitute a passage Way'for the fuel and Water.,respectively, arepseparated from Yeachother by means of a plug' 42'*(Figure 4) Which prevents intermingling" of the fuel and Water. Any elbow 43 is arranged at the ,end of the housing 41 and issecuredtliereto, in thisy instance, by virtuey of the threaded internal bushing 44 which 'alsojgserves as a-'gui'de for vthe .Water fvalv'elto Abe'hereinafter described. The-elbow 43 terminatesin a pipe 45 Whichzleads to andi communicates'with the periphery ofthe loivermostbaiile ysection-180 so ashto establish a water flow Y.through eachV individual baffle plateraiid ultimately -to the-outlet .46 Whichf'leads from the uppermost baille section 44 ito 'any desirable l fixture adaptedv to dispense Water, such-as aifaucet. :j As shown, thepipe 46- extends throughthe coverv 13xof lilley `5 Y, '1.-2 Y H -1 f f EIt is 1.. desirable -to "concentrate` heat :under each baffle section in order to uniformly distrib'utefthe fheat in- .the combustion chamber as well Las z. to steadily, increase the temperature of th'ef'waterfas it passesrthrough each section:y Which` may be :regarded :as ane-indivilual;heating unit.,V .Withthisend inview, the Bumsen vburners-'and they bale plates' have a" peculiari cooperative. s arrangement in y la spiralI course. .'Tofibeginzwitln Vthe helical 'burner pipe 19 is. laid in close i proximity to .the Wall of.A the ishell- 10;,- and its burners are VV built'up with:tubulai:lcolumns'4',A 48, 49, and I V59 tor carry the mixed fi'ieltoelevated p 'oints for combustion.. Eachgof the burner columns der av ycorrespoiiding' baille; plate 30,A 31, fetc.

baileiplates disposedin their lateral arrangetionofkeachjplate'to-be close to the Wall of yfthe"r shell :at ar pointgabove-thelcorresponlIl-g;Y burner/columns '47, 48, etc.,V theseicolumns lining the ,Wall because :of: the proximity of 'the-'burner vpipe 19 thereto.; Thus; theA flame Y issuing` from each column fi`s1 received Vinto therdncavityf offs the E baille, Iplate from Vbalance Hof" tlresconavityftofully heat .the

plate. Qons'equently, a smallflam'e :Willsuff 1 fieftof heat ea'chfbaiile plate,z elfecting' considerable saving infuel 'over ezistin'gf types of" instantaneous? e ivaterffhe'aters r -urther,

V{vai-'d theceii'terfof theshelh andthe concenthe 'projection 'of the heat'fromethe sides toa :20, `21', `etc., from backiiring?" .action of 'the cidentally gives'the heat ascending'therej ychimney 'pipe'. 18 which .the-bafie section 34 to permit the escape of the cooled flue igases to theatmosphere1y In be noted however, :that `the baiile section does 'not .touch "the periphery oftthew shellv struction shown, V,the-bailie sectionsjare so A45,5.

I area with a `View to provide a heat absoiba ing `surface of unusually largeglmagnitu'de. It is-desirable that the thicknessef thechamgv69 Y P teenths (relatan luch, therebydlrectinga thin sheet of W aterl"theretlirough'Which ,is

partaofzfthe shell irelatively .coole-and espe;`

`pipe isdesigned :to render the burneracol- 10 vminate at the `lower ends-,in spaced standards centrally disposedwith 'respect to thegcomf,`

soas to ienablecompletextractionof heat therefrom, a Aplate :ofany desirable shape. vis employed to restrict the opening 52,and

; toenable regulation ofthe ratefo-gdischarge massime t 53 v'cientand instantaneous; heating, especially 'in View f of :the above described :method jemployed :to direct Afthe thea-t 'againstf the radiatping` snrfac,es. The arrangement vshownfis also ainovelfeature and helpfulinzattaining ythe desired weffect, in that Ait consumes fvery little space, :and vimpartsto the, waterv a twirlcallyso Vnear athe walllof .the shell-#softhat the fuel will not light :atzthe burner nozzles dames, fat the top of the burner columns. The novel rarrangementwthus assuresfthe une .interrupted and -eiiicientV operation oi' the iiames.v Theascending course `of the burnerV 1.1mm more or less `uniform in length, wherelheatedtwater-:particles and fthoroughly, com- -by1to save( material in thenianufacturefthere-V mingling the '1 same with the.,v coole-r water Lof. The :arrangement ofthe bafilex-plates in-l in that it makes possiblejthelhigh eiiciency obtainable sin the 11construction'` above ,described. i Further, it 'eliminates the unusualf rly, high ltemperature difference of the water indifferent sectionsbf' 'the :system which is from fa tortuous'path of travel, so that it will remain in longer rcontact 'with' the surfaces of Athe baie plates, to be absorbed thereby before reaching the outlet flue in thetop of. thel shelh By this arrangement practically all of the heat is utilizedfrom the flames and products of `combustion before reaching the communicates with struction. Y Needless to ,say that an uneven distribution of 'heat subjectsnthe heater fto harmful stresses foccasionedgby marked -Vathe atmosphere. Y riances in =temperature. `These"undesirable Y Th burner columns, above mentioned, teraj effects are entirely -eliminated inithe :system embodyingmy invention1if-4 51: which: are Secured to the burneri element 1 9 above each nozzle byrwellding .orthe like', fthere'by permitting #access of a'ir to the burner. el.: j

The uppermost bafliesection 34, in this finstance, is ofsnch size as Vto cover practically. the entire combustionchamber infaneffortto extract any heat that `may ,remaimin products of vcombustionafter theirjpassage through 4the lower sections.l "An opening "52 tomatic controlsffor .the1;.;admission` of` fuel Y andAf-water to .theheater `especially because tion :to insure efiiicient and safe V" operation. Io avoidtheinconvenience necessitated vby Vsuch devices, an automatic control `is provided having: construction* wherein the regulation `ofi ffuel and weten is controlled Without'the use of a gthermostatgor othereX- pensive,andcompliated eXpedientsi- Inlthi's bustion .chamber and situated immediately instancejthelujgomati QontfQL irs entirely 4below .the chimney pipe I18, is provided in upon YtheAwate'r ,fflow roccasioned -icy `its consumption, s o that v theezqaansion` of the hea-tf' order .to retard the escape of" theflue gases ed mata-n the System produces aback 'p1-eg;

Stroller, 'thereby -efecti/Irg :the control of; the

,may be provided withadjusting means ,-so-f1s throughthe opening 52.y The plate 53 `may `l0@ termed fa damper, ffQrf it *governs the amount of draftthrough fthe heater..` It will movable member `whichreciprocates in the housingsadaptd to, freceiveffuel and Water. The waterf control member ,-isxconneeted by suitable connecting means, with a fuel valve v mounted 1 for fsimultaneousmovement' with the water-yalve,

l0, and thereioreameans oescape fortheA Referring now more to4 Figure A wherein gases is always maintained. Itis to be emphasized that Vin the conconstructed as to provide a very-thin Water vshow n,it comprises fla-fuel and rwaterhouschamber 36 of ,comparatiyely largeA Asurface 42. The unionisarranged'tofdivert the flow Ofi vfuel 'and-.Waterfin different directions to ber 3 6 shouldnotjbeiuexcess fofgtfhreesix usually large 4magnitude,Y Suchfa construc` i911 @sa afessmeata @neuere eenmaalaommunaaawata,tiembla57 Itis ordinarily undesirablefto provideiau b .2 l:

surewhich affectsthefflow through the conprevent 1interrnlingling" thereof.l As shown,

ling zmovement 'when circulating through ,the system, thereby uniformly distributing the l particles This feature yisi 'highly desirable Nery markedinheaters olfxthe usual con- `mechanicahinfthatits operation sdependent fuel.; control-reactsftdstatic and Idy- 4 Vn'ainiclforcesv `established fby the -eXpansioii i and flowifgofwater respectively, through a a .structure illustrativefof the automatic'con-v :trol embodying-the present/ inv e ntion Tis` Y. 120 ing? 24 and fil `respectivelyunited 1n coaxial v relation andby virtue of an iin-ternaleunion mounted-'forfreciprocation in Ithe housingsi24 v Y "andfil. innerchamber 56`providedinith'e -lao - entending through the elbowt.V n` externally threaded -Vbushing 44 twithinlthe chamr bers 56 andfjoin's elbow k43lwi'ththe hoursing 41: therebyformingajcontinuous passage f to the'baie sections by meansof thefpipe45 interposed "between the ,elbowy-43 and the f stand pipe 37 inthe'usual manner. v AAgdisc 58 f having axially-extending guiding ilugsi59 on its'Y periphery is secured fto the `piston Sprod'in any i suitable -manner, 1- in this instance, Vlby means of" a nut60fwhioh isinithreadeden?y y gagement withqthe extremity of the piston .Y rods'.- Afuel'valveihavng a valve bodyv61 f,

ishoused within and-between the (housing 24 and-:the burner element-"19,fand serves asa connection therefor, in thattheuni'on 25 secured-to the burner'elementlQ, is adapted to Y engage the external threads 1 62 'of the valve frolmhthe chamber `63 to thechamber 64.` `f/The v.piston valvey66 isfsecuredftothe otherfextremity of the piston-rod ,finanyappro# priate manner, and is'reciprocallwithlthe pistonfrod 55. A? late' 68,havingpperfora-Y tions 69 for admitting fuel therethroughyis provided on the inletface of thevalve 'body' 61' to' act as a guide for the piston valve 1,66

which reciprocatesin the axial bore-Oof the faceplate 68,.V Itis to'be notedthat'the plate 681`is substantially rectangular in form] and being Ynarrower; than the yfdiamete'r of the chamber 63, admits thepassa'ge' of v fuelV A around it as clearly showninFigure 5f l #Pack- .59

ingrl is placed aroundfthdpistonj rod '55 in anaxial opening 73 provided in the `prlugr42 j so as -to prevent leakage' between the-water# f and fuel housing 24. A'th'readed plug 74-ha`vp vingl acentralopeningtoreceivethe1rod`55,f is

detachably secured' into'the bore fsoasto Y retain the packing'ineplace. 1

" With the arrangement fofl parts as' de# scribed;Y above, ftheV `waterflovv'fthrough the water? inlet pipe l40 :establishes ,pres's'ure Y against the.. piston valve '58 lthereby.` pushingn L -the'valve with its rod` to theileft,thereby permitting the water to owint'o vpas'sa'g'"e 56 to the bailleY sections by means foffanny convenient piping? :as described above.:"Simultaneous with themovement 'of thewateri'valveitothe left;V i the fuel valve" '66" f' simultaneously Vbetween the chambers'y andi 64;which slip'- Y plies fuelfto the burner element 197;" lIt will" be noted that 1 ther-'ate' 'ofl Vdischafrge "lief `hot shifted, Ythereby establishing communication' water-througha convenient dispensing rneansv i connected :Y to the f outletiipipe controls the c amountfofA water fl'wingintofthe'system. I vl'llhefwaterflow opensithewatervlve which fadlnitsaquantityof"unheatedfwater proportion'fof 'thebottorn i tionedto nthe quantityk tapped, 'thereby maintaining-the- :systemfilled at'- all times.' Obviously an' .admission of `*water ladmits fuel also, since' ythe .water and fuel Vvalves havethe same `movement; To insure thelvalveto -as- .sume/itsnormally closed positiony during" a period of vno water iow,'a coil springf' placed around-the rodl'55V between the fuel valve' 66 so as kto abut against 'the' plug 42. When v thel 1 static pressure ini thevhot: water `system is equal to the Vpressure 'of vfthe water ,supply source, the springt? rwill cause the valve, 66 toV bearagainstits seat' 65, 'thereby preventing an admission of *fuel to the burner. It isto' be noted that withthey valve Vconstruction shown lvalve adjustment andregulation ispossible by lmerely* changing the Adistance between the vinternal bush-ing 44 and the fuel valvebody 61.1V f" T 1 It is=important Aor at least highly desirable to avoid the Vescape `of unbu'rned fuel" especially when gaseous fuel is employed, which would occur when the burners to 21 etc.,are extinguished,ftherefore a1 pilotA burner 76 communicatino' with@ theV chamber -77 'of' the housing 24 is ldesigned-to supply at all Vtimes Y just-enou gh fuel' top'rovid'ea flight' capable of effec-ting combustion ofthe fuel issuing=from the individual"burners/.fv f In-thep'res'ent'showing'thepilot'g' consists of a rodl receiving a small'V quantity of fuel from lthe* chamber 77 which is directed to the uppermostextrernity ofthe burner columnj47 thereby ignitingany fuel which will issue therefrom."-Itis'Obvil 'ousfthat individual pilot lights'may be pro- Vvided fforv eachffburner.y Hand operated valves may 4beprovided in the supply" lines to enable Vthe completeshutfolf of both lthe fuell tofthe heater whenever desir- :The lowere-'X'tremity-fof"theshell 10, the interior of which 'constitutes the combustion chamber, may bel closedfbylfprvidinga Vdiaphragm' of any' suitable 'foringhaving open'- v ings to'allow. the admission `o'ffai'r Qfor-` draft 'Purposesgy i Various changes mayfabemade 'in' the emn bodinient' ofjthefinvention hereinl specifically described without departing from` or sacrifie. ing 'any of the' advantages of the inventionfas defined in the'appended claims.v f

'51. In La; waterV heatenfha-ving afseries" of vertically spacedy plates vof hollow construction,V and water conductors interconnecting the plate-S; ,uis-i sommation of a ma 't0nfue ductorentirely below'the plate'as'seinbly'and i a'series of directburner columns upo'nisaid fuel conductor'iupwardly extended fi'ointhe 6 "fuel conductor to thevicinityrespective plates fori-'the idischargeofflanie in thedireo'- @thereisverhaal 'irrirspcea allaffsfaggeredly;aangedane f '160' E charge of flame against thesame.

vhollow. construction, water conductorsinterand a series ofburner columnsl directed lfrom 3. In a water heater, a substantially cylin-Y drical. shell, a series of vertically-spaced plates of hollow construction, water-conductors interconnecting the plates, a fuel conduc-V` tor below the latter and having'- a spiral Y course in proximity to the wall ofthe shell,

points along the fuel conductor to the vicinity Vof corresponding plates for the discharge ofV flame thereagainst, said' burnercolumns be: Y ing close to the walls of the shell, and said plates being laterally arrangedin spiral forder whereby.to expose .unrestrictedpon .tions in proximity to the wallsof the shell ,1 burner columns.

directly to the Allames `of the correspondingY 4. In a'water heater, having'a substantially i cylindrical shell, and a series of :.watervessels Y in the upper part of the latter, vthe combina-l 5 tion of a spiral fuel main'in the lower part of the shell and havingitscourse in proximity tothe wall thereof,and burner columns risfl ing from the main to positions in the vicinity Y r itfaterbody ineachwplate which is composed of inherent currents describing a twirling spiral commencing at the supply and ending at thev discharge. v Y

v 8. vIna water heater, the combination ofa i series of vertically spaced platesxof hollow construction, water conductors interconnectying the plates, a fuel conductor below the plate assembly, said plates being arranged so that each has a portion in direct and unob-` structed alincment with said fuelconductor, u

saidA fuel conductor having burnerv outlets,

and verticalcondu'its carried by said fuel conductor andsurrounding each of the burnl Ver outlets, each of saidconduits extending toward theexposedportion of one of said plates and Vdischarging against the bottomfr` thereof. 4 n

l In testimony whereof I aflx my signature at lOSouth La Salle Street,l Chicago, Illinois.

' Y GANZ.l

of said water vessels and discharging there against. u Y n Y l .1 Y 5. In a water heater, a` substantially cylindrical shell, a series of verticallyfspaced Vchambered water plates' of substantially cir'- cular contour and concave-,convex formation, means connecting the chambers of successive plates anda burnerl opposite the concavity of each plate and discharging'upwardly theres v against, saidiburner'being located near the L edge of the plate and having-'its flame lill the.`

plate concavity from the direction of such edge in a cup-shaped sheet.

6. In a water heater, a substantially cylindrical shell, a series of vertically spaced chambered water plates of substantially cir- 2- cular contour and concavo-convex formation, f said plates bemg diametrlcally smaller thanH the shellv being laterally distributedto locate the outersectionof each'platle close tothe 'y wall of the shell, and a burner opposite ,the

concavity of each plate and Vdischarging Vupfwardly against the ,bottom thereof'at the site of its said outer-section, said-burner hav-fY i ing its ame fill the plate concavity toward the center of the Yshell in a cup-shapedsheet.V

7. In a water heaterga series of vertically`V`V spaced plates of substantially circular con- Y tour, said plates alsobeing hollow to acconi- Inodate a sheet-like body of water,a series of conduits for successively connecting said plates and entering the same tangentially at the periphery, and leaving said plates at subi stantially the center, the supply forming a 

